<^^ 


^>. 


iMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


V  -,^     ^. 


1.0    ^^  I 


2.5 


I.I 


iLO     12.0 


1.25 


M.  Ill  1.6 


V 


v; 


"^ 


Photographic 

Sdencea 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAiN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


^^ 


m 


\ 


;V 


:\ 


\ 


% 


^o 


^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  In&titute  for  Historical  Microreproductiors  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproHuctions  historiques 


Techninal  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


Tl 
to 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographtcally  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 

□    Cover:>  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pelliculie 


□ 


D 
D 


a 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encte  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Plancnes  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reii6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pagas  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6tA  filmdes. 


L'Institcut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniqu3S  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  lestauries  et/ou  peliicul6os 


G 


s/ 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6coior6es,  tacheteas  ou  piqudes 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tach^es 

□    Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

□    Quality  'jf  print  varies/ 
Qu£.lit6  indgale  de  I'impression 

□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

□    Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  hy  errata 
slips,  tissuos,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ei-^s'.'re  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcieo  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Tl 

P< 
ol 
fil 


O 
bi 
th 
si 
oi 
fil 
si 
oi 


Tl 
si 

Tl 
w 

M 
di 
ei 
hi 
ri( 
re 
m 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  &u  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

lOX  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


lax 


J 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exentplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grfice  A  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nsttetd  de  I'examplaire  fiimd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  fiimds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration,  soit  par  ie  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autrea  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — •>•  signifie  "A  SUbVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
riyht  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmis  d  des  taux  de  reduction  di7f6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clich6,  il  est  film6  i  partir 
de  Tangle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

^  .t;*;i^..„'  ,^.-:;i^,^.- 


i 


i 


,       t 


i    I 


A 


LEhi' 


!..|     i:€'  -     f 


M'>-    L..    IL  VlRGI! 


I 


Ann 


T  H  E   N  A ']  ,      x  A ! .  C  ■  >  M  P  A  N  Y 


I  ". 


<* 


y^ 


>** 


T^l^gMltw'**'''^ 


A  Leaf  of  Express  History. 


Mr.  E.  H.  Virgil 


AND 


The  National  Company. 


«    ♦    I 


ALBANY: 

THE  ARGUS  COMPANY,  PRINTERS. 
"  1880. 


/9  m 


i 


A  Leaf  of  Express  History. 


S  is  indicated  by  the  title,  the  matter 
following  is   a   sketch    of    the   rise, 
rapid   growth   and    present   importance   of 
the    Express    business,  and    the   prominent 
connection    therewith   held    from    the    first 
by  Mr.  E.  H.  Virgil,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.     The 
information    contained    in   it   was  gathered 
from    conversations    with    that    gentleman, 
and    the    object   of    this    sketch    is    to   pre- 
sent  in    brief,    the    history   of    one    of    the 
pioneer   companies    in    particular  —  that  of 
the    National    Express    Company.       In    so 
doing,  the   writer   will    recount    the   birth, 
middle   age   and    riper   years    of    both    the 
company   and    the   gentleman  named,  they 
being   closely   allied   to   each   other. 


4  A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 

ROUTES    AND    STATIONS. 

The  routes  of  the  National  Express 
Company  extend  through  portions  of  the 
States  of  New  York,  Massachusetts  and 
Vermont,  and  the  Province  of  Quebec, 
with  principal  offices  at  New  York,  Albany, 
Troy,  Saratoga,  Plattsburgh  and  Bingham- 
ton,  N.  Y. ;  North  Adams,  Mass.;  Rutland, 
Burlington  and  St.  Albans,  Vt.;  and  St. 
Johns   and    Montreal,    P.    Q. 

MR.  Virgil's  early  history. 

Mr.  E.  H.  Virgil  is  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, having  been  born  in  Egremont, 
Berkshire  county,  on  the  26th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1808.  '  In  1810  his  parents  removed 
to  Fabius,  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  1820  to  Richland,  Oswego  county,  and 
again  in  1823,  to  Union  Square,  Oswego 
county,  where  they  purchased  a  home 
in  which  they  resided  until  their  decease, 
some  years  since.  Mr.  Virgil  does  not 
remember  anything  concerning  the  short 
period  spent  in  imbibing  the  breezes  wafted 


' 


^'i 


A  LEAF  OF  EXP  NESS  HIS  TOR  Y,  5 

from  the  Berkshire  hills.  He  does,  how- 
ever, have  a  lively  recollection  of  events 
which  transpired  at  Union  Square,  N.  Y., 
where  he  assisted  his  father  in  tilling  the 
soil,  not  without  dreams  and  ambitions 
reaching  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  farm. 

YOUTHFUL    AMBITIONS. 

His  youthful  aspirations  assumed  defi- 
nite form  on  the  occasion  of  the  first  stage 
coach  which,  drawn  by  four  horses,  passed 
through  the  village  of  Union  Square,  in 
1826,  on  its  way  from  Syracuse  to  Water- 
town,  This  produced  the  first  real  sensa- 
tion of  his  early  life,  and  he  was  then  and 
there  fired  with  an  ambition  to  become 
a  stage  driver.  To  hold  the  reins  over 
four  fleet  coursers,  and  feel  them  respond 
to  the  music  of  his  whip,  was  the  goal  to 
which  he  allowed  his  thoughts  to  drift, 
on  wings  of  imagination.  He  at  once 
commenced  a  course  of  training  under  an 
adept  in  the  science  of  stage  driving,  and 
in    a    short   time   graduated    with    honors, 


fb 


6  A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 

not  only  to  himself,  but  to  his  teacher,  a 
Mr.  Vallentine.  His  parents  offered  some 
objections,  and  endeavored  to  show  him 
that  his  ambitious  propensities  would  not 
meet  with  that  friendly  recognition  by  the 
world  which  he  imagined  would  attend  his 
efforts,  but  their  arguments  were  of  no 
avail,  and  early  in  the  year  1827  he  left 
home  to  give  scope  to  the  talents  he  had 
cultivated,  his  objective  point  being  Au- 
burn, N.  Y.,  the  then  great  stage  centre. 

THE   BOHEMIAN    STAGE  DRIVER. 

On  his  arrival  at  Auburn  he  made 
himself  known  to  the  proprietor  and 
manager  of  the  stage  route  from  Syracuse 
to  Geneva,  a  Mr.  J.  M.  Sherwood,  who, 
being  favorably  impressed  with  the  young 
man  from  Union  Square,  elevated  him 
to  the  top  of  a  stage  coach.  His  early 
aspirations  were  thus  realized  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  ;  and  in  the  year  1827  he 
started  out  on  his  first  trip,  it  being  from 
Auburn  to   Geneva,  via  Seneca  Falls.      He 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HIS  TOR  V.  7 

remained  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Sherwood 
for  one  year;  and  during  the  succeeding 
two  years,  in  the  employ  of  other  stage 
proprietors,  he  drove  over  every  stage 
route  between  Albany  and  Geneva,  N.  Y. 
Among  Mr.  Sherwood's  rules  and  regu- 
lations was  one  requiring  the  frequent 
change  of  drivers  from  one  route  to 
another;  and  the  reason  assigned  for  this 
rotation  was  that  the  employes  in  this 
manner  were  prevented  from  forming  too 
many  acquaintances,  especially  at  the  lay- 
over places.  Mr.  Virgil  does  not  say 
whether  it  became  necessary  to  adopt  this 
rule  previous  or  subsequent  to  his  em- 
ployment by  Mr.  Sherwood. 


FROM    COACH    TO    OFFICE. 

He  temporarily  relinquished  stage  driv- 
ing in  1830,  and  assumed  the  duties  of 
clerk  in  the  office  of  Thorpe  &  Sprague, 
stage  proprietors  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  He 
remained  in  that  position  until  the  partial 
completion    of   the    Mohawk    and    Hudson 


8.   •       A  LEAF  OF  EXPKESii  HISTORY, 


Railroad    in    1832,    when    he    sought    and 
obtained    employment   on    the    railroad    at 
that    time    running    between    Albany    and 
Schenectady.     In  1833  he  resumed   his  old 
business,    this    time   with    Rice    &    Baker, 
afterwards     Baker    &     Walker,    in    whose 
employ  he  remained  as  stage  driver  about 
two  years,   his  last   experience   as  a  driver 
being  between  New  York  city  and  Yonkers, 
during    the    close    of    navigation    in    1834 
and    1835,       He   then     became    their   clerk 
in  Albany,  where  he  remained    until  June, 
1842 

THE    "new     idea." 

In  the  month  of  August,  1841,  Mr.  Wm. 
F.  Harnden  established  an  express  line 
between  Boston  and  Albany,  the  first  trip 
as  messenger  being  made  by  Mr.  John  A. 
Pullen,  who  traveled  from  Boj;*^^on  to  Chat- 
ham by  rail,  and  thence  by  stage  to  Albany. 
The  ali  rail  route  between  Boston  and 
Albany  was  completed  through  a  short 
time   subsequent   during  the   came    year. 


[ 


u 


' 


I 


A  LEAF  Oh  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


U 


I 


It   was  on  the   occasion   of   Mr.   Pullen's 
debut    in    Albany,    that     Mr.    Virgil     first 
became   imbued   with    the  idea   of   becom- 
ing an   expressman.       Mr.   Harnden's  ideas 
and  methods  vrere  carefully  inquired  into, 
and,  tifter  some  deliberation,  the  establish- 
ment   of    a    route    for    the   transaction    of 
express     business      between     Albany     and 
Montreal    was    determined    upon    by    Mr. 
Virgil.       His    time    with    the    stage    com- 
pany   had    been    secured     by    them    until 
June,     1842.        After     an     ineffectual     en- 
deavor  to    get    released,    he    succeeded    in 
interesting  Mr.  Samuel  Jacobs,  of  Albany, 
in     the    matter,    who,    in    the    month    of 
December,  1841,  made  the  initial  trip  from 
Albany  to    Montreal.      The  trip  was  made 
all    the  way  by  stage,  the  route   being  ma 
Troy,  Salem,  Castleton,   Sudbury,  Burling- 
ton, St.  Albans  and  St.  Johns,  to  Montreal. 
The   firm  of    J.  C.    Pierce   &    Sons,   of   St. 
Johns,  P.  Q.,  had  an  extended  reputation  as 
general  forwarders,  and  on  his  arrival  there 
Mr.  Jacobs  sought  their  advice,  and  obtained 


ill 


.IK,'-. 


10  A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY, 

from    them    letters    of    introduction    to    a 
number  of   the  business  men   in   Montreal, 
but    the    latter     did     not    give    him     any 
encouragement.        The    scheme    was    con- 
sidered    Quixotic,     and     Mr.     Jacobs      re- 
turned    to     Albany    thoroughly     discour- 
aged, the    loss   on    the    trip    being    about 
forty    dollars,     notwithstanding     the     fact 
that   only   one-half   fare    was    paid    to    the 
stage    companies.       During     his     absence, 
Mr.     Virgil,      through      Mr.     Pullen,     had 
obtained    a    lot    of     Harnden    advertising 
cards,  soliciting  business  and  setting  forth 
what    was    being    done    by    Mr.    Harnden 
between    New  York,  Boston  and  Albany. 

THE     BENEFITS     OF     ADVERTISING. 

Mr.  Jacobs  started  on  another  trip  in 
January,  1842,  taking  those  cards  with 
him,  which  he  posted  at  all  points  between 
Albany  and  Montreal.  He  returned  from 
this  trip  considerably  encouraged,  and 
wished  Mr.  Virgil  also  to  go  on  the  road, 
urging   that   the    more  freqnent    communi- 


A  LEAF  OF  EXFUESS  HISTOR  V. 


II 


, 


cation   would    render   the   project   popular 
and   be   likely   to    make   it   successful. 

Previous  to  Mr.  Virgil's  start,  Mr.  Jacobs 
made  a  third  trip  to  Montreal.  On  this 
occasion  he  carried  with  him  a  small  trunk 
in  addition  to  the  carpet-bag,  which  he 
had  taken  with  him  on  the  former  trips. 
The  total  effects  on  the  trip  south  consisted 
of  four  small  money  packages  destined  to 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  which  place  at  that  time 
monopolized  the  northern  business. 

THE     FIRST     AGENCY     ESTABLISHED. 

Mr.  Virgil,  on  his  first  trip,  left  Albany 
on  the  30th  day  of  June,  1842.  The  first 
regular  agency  was  established  in  the  fall 
of  1842,  at  Castleton,  Vermont,  with  Geo. 
D.  Spencer  as  agent. 

Messrs.  Virgil  and  Jacobs  continued  to- 
gether until  February,  1843,  when  the  lat- 
ter becoming  discouraged,  withdrew,  his 
place  being  taken  by  a  Mr.  -Howard,  who 
also  withdrew  after  eight  months'  service. 
Mr.    Howard's   interest    was    purchased    by 


12  A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 

Mr.  H.  F,  Rice,  at  that  time  a  clerk  in  the 
office  of  Azariah  C.  Flagg,  Secretary  of 
State.  Shortly  after  Messrs.  Virgil  and 
Rice  extended  their  routes  to  New  York 
city,  but  did  not  do  any  local  business 
between  Troy,  Albany  and  New  York. 

GROWTH     OF     THE     BUSINESS. 

In  the  winter  of  1846  they  secured  the 
services  of  Mr.  John  O.  Grady  and  Mr. 
Charles  P.  Geer,  the  latter  now  the  agent 
of  the  American  and  the  United  States  and 
Canada  Express  Companies,  at  Ogdens- 
burgh,  N.  Y.  With  this  addition  to  the 
force  they  were  able  to  make  weekly  trips 
between  Montreal  and  New  York,  cover- 
ing all  points  on  both  sides  of  Lake 
Champlain. 

In  the  year  1847,  the  business  had 
grown  so  large  that  a  superintendent  was 
required.  Mr.  Virgil,  therefore,  retired 
from  the  road  and  assumed  the  duties  of 
that  position.  Previous  to  this  time  the 
headquarters  had    been   at   Albany,   N.  Y. 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


13 


but  the  better  facilities  existing  at  Troy 
for  the  transhipment  of  freight  induced 
a  change,  and  the  headquarters  were  re- 
moved to  the  latter  point,  where  they 
have  since  remained. 


HOW     MONTREAL     WAS     REACHED. 

Previous  to  1847,  the  messenger  traveled 
north  from  Troy  on  the  famous  Red  Bird 
line  of  stages  owned  by  Peter  Comstock, 
who  was  assisted  in  the  management  of 
the  line  by  Mr.  I.  V.  Baker,  now  the 
honored  president  of  the  New  York  and 
Canada  Railroad.  Mr.  Comstock  also 
owned  all  the  packet  boats  and  stage 
lines  running  from  Troy  to  Montreal  via 
the  west  side  of  Lake  Champlain.  At 
that  time  the  steamboats  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain  were  commanded  by  Captains  Rich-' 
ard  W.  Sherman,  Daniel  Lyon  and  Gideon 
Lathrop,  names  familiar  to  the  northern 
traveling  public  of  *'ye  olden  tyme." 
During  the  season  of  navigation  the  mode 
of   transportation   between    New  York  and 


14  A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HIS  TOR  V. 

Montreal    was    from    New    York    to   Troy, 
by   steamboat,   150  miles ;   Troy  to   White- 
hall,   by  packet-boat,  seventy   miles  ;   from 
Whitehall   through    Lake   Champlain    and 
St.  Johns  river  to  St.  Johns,  by  steamboat, 
155    miles  ;   from    St!  Johns  to   La  Prairie, 
by  railroad,    sixteen    miles,   and     from    La 
Prairie    to    Montreal,    by    steamboat,    nine 
miles.      The   journey  occupied  three  days. 
The    railroad    between    St.    Johns    and    La 
Prairie  was  built    in    primitive    style,  with 
"strap"   rails,  and  the  cars  were  similar  to 
those    used    between  Albany  and    Schenec- 
tady in  1834  and  1835. 

THEN     AND     NOW, 

Now  that  it  is  all  long  since  past,  it  is 
a  pleasure  to  the  old  traveler  and  express- 
man to  recall  the  time  when  journeys  of 
any  length  were  only  undertaken  upon 
occasions  of  the  greatest  importance, 
especially  during  the  winter  months,  when 
the  whole  distance  had  to  be  traveled  by 
stage.      In  those  days,  a  winter   trip  from 


^^^ 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


15 


New  York  to  Montreal  occupied  six  days, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  fatigue  and  suffer- 
ings from  the  cold.  The  same  trip  is 
now  done  in  fourteen  hours,  in  almost  as 
much  comfort  as  one  would  find  at  home. 


CHANGES     AND     IMPROVEMENTS. 

From  1847  to  1850  there  was  no  change 
in  the  affairs  of  the  company,  the  firm 
being  Virgil  &  Rice.  In  1850,  they  con- 
solidated with  Mr.  Pullen,  who,  as  has 
been  mentioned,  was  the  first  to  suggest 
the  express  business  to  Mr.  Virgil, 

Mr.  Pullen  left  the  employ  of  Mr.  Harn- 
den,  for  whom  he  was  acting  as  messen- 
ger on  the  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad, 
and  in  1842,  in  connection  with  a  Mr. 
Copp,  started  in  the  business  between 
Troy  and  New  York.  They  also  acted  as 
messengers  for  Messrs.  Pomeroy  &  Wells, 
who  had  established  an  express  between 
New  York,  Albany  and  the  West.  After 
the  consolidation  with  Mr.  Pullen,  in  1850, 
the    firm    was    known    as    Pullen,    Virgil    & 


i6 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPJ^ESS  HISTORY. 


it. 


Co.  There  was  no  further  change  of 
general  interest  until  1853,  except  that  the 
railroad  was  completed  through  from  New 
York  to  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  and  staging 
was  abandoned. 

In  1853,  one-half  of  Messrs.   Pullen,  Vir- 
gil   &    Co.'s    interest     was     purchased    by 
Johnston     Livingston,    D.    N.    Barney   and 
Col.    McKay,    at   which    time    they   organ- 
ized    under    the    name    of    the     National 
Express    Co.,    with    Mr.    Barney   as    Presi- 
dent, and    Mr.  Virgil  as  General    Superin- 
tendent.       The   Board    of     Directors,     at 
present,    consists    of    Alexander    Holland, 
President ;  E.    H.  Virgil,   Secretary;  L.  W.' 
Winchester,    Treasurer;    Johnston    Living- 
ston   and   James   C.    Fargo. 

THE    GIANT     OF     THE     ROAd! 

Those  who  are  favored  with  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  Mr.  Virgil,  or  at  all 
interested,  one  way  or  another,  in  the 
history  of  the  express  business,  or  who 
like  accounts  of   the  adventures  and  hard- 


,— jCI. 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


17 


ships  of   pioneer   travelers,  will   read   with 
interest    a    few   reminiscences    here    given 
in    this    connection.       It    is    not    an    easy 
matter   to   give  an  adequate  and   accurate 
description  of  Mr.  Virgil's  appearance  when 
dressed     for    his    winter    travels.       He    is 
possessed    of   a   massive    frame,   which,    in 
the  )^ears  of  his  earlier  manhood,  was  per- 
fectly straight  and  well  rounded.     Wrapped 
in   a    huge    fur    coat,    topped   with   a    fur 
cap     of     similar    proportions,     he     was     a 
formidable  object   on   the  road.     Notwith- 
standing  the   fact   being   generally   known 
that  the  effects   he  carried  with    him  were 
of   the   most  valuable  description,  he  was 
never  interfered  with  in  any  manner.     His 
vivid    imagination,    however,    was    on    one 
occasion  .extended   to   its   utmost    tension, 
probably  with  a  fear   of  being  kidnapped, 
as  the  following  can  be  accounted  for  in  no 
other  way.     It  seems  that  two  little  French 
Canadians    were   plodding    along   through 
the    snow,  between    St.  Albans    and    Bur- 
lington, when  they  were  overtaken  by  the 


i8 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPjRESS  HISTORY. 


Stage   sleigh.     Thinking   they  might  get  a 
little    rest,    they   got    into    the  ''boot"  in 
the  rear  of  the  sleigh,  and   no  sooner  had 
they  comfortably  arranged  themselves  than 
they  were  astonished    beyond    measure   by 
the    sudden    appearance    of    a    stern    and 
threatening  face  encased  in  fur,  from  over 
the     top    of    the    stage    above    them,    tw'o 
horse  pistols  pointing  at  their  heads  and  a 
perfect   storm    of   Anglo-Saxon   expletives, 
which,    though    not  understood,  were  suffi- 
cient    to    cause    them     to    beat     a     quick 
retreat,     and    they    soon    disappeared.      It 
is    evident   that    Mr.    Virgil    somewhat   re- 
gretted that  this  story  escaped   him,  as  he 
endeavored    to   explain  by   saying   that   he 
felt  justified  in  his  severe  treatment  of  the 
poor    Frenchmen,    as    he    had    a    valuable 
load  of    express    matter.     He   further   says 
that  some    time   after,    at   Burlington,    one 
of  them  being  introduced  to  him,  in  refer- 
ring to  his  exit  from  the  sleigh,  said,  "Mr. 
Virgile,  I  thought  you  vas  the  devile." 


k 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTOR  V. 


19 


OVERCOMING    OBSTACLES. 

An    unfortunate    trip,    with   a    fortunate 
ending,  was    one    that    terminated   on   the 
19th  day  of  November,  1845.     After  passing 
through   Lake  Champlain  on  the  last   trip 
for   the  season  of  the  steamer  Burlington, 
Capt.   Sherman,    bound   north,    Mr.   Virgil, 
at  La  Prairie,  boarded  the  steamer  Prince 
Albert    for    Montreal,    which    after    going 
about   one-half   mile   struck   a   rock.      The 
river    was     full    of     floating     ice,     which 
crashed    against   the     boat,     not    however 
doing     any    material     c'amage.      She     re- 
mained   there    all    night,     and     the    next 
morning  she   was  frozen  in  the  ice,  which 
reached    to    the    La    Prairie    shore.      The 
principal    express  matter  on    the  trip  con- 
sisted  of   $20,000   in   silver,    in    four    kegs, 
each    weighing  320   pounds.  '    Four   hand- 
sleds    were    procured    and    with    one    keg 
on    each   of   them.   La    Prairie    was   again 
safely    reached     twenty-four    hours     after 
leaving.     The   silver   was    then   loaded   on 


t 


so 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


a  lumber  wagon  and  taken  to  St.  Lam- 
bert and  put  on  board  the  steamer  Fire 
Fly,  which  shortly  afterwards  started  for 
Montreal.  When  off  St.  Helen's  Island, 
about  a  mile  from  St.  Lambert,  she  struck 
bottom,  b..t  got  off  and  proceeded  on 
towards  Montreal.  The  river  had  frozen 
out  to  the  distance  of  about  one-quarter 
of  a  mile  from  the  dock  at  Montreal,  and 
it  became  necessary  to  force  a  passage  by 
breaking  through  the  ice,  which  was  done, 
and  the  dock  safely  reached.  The  last 
keg  of  silver  had  just  been  removed  when 
the  steamer  suddenly  sunk. 

VALUABLE   EXPRESS   PARCELS. 

Not  a  small  amount  of  the  receipts  dur- 
ing the  staging  period  may  be  attributed 
to  Mr.  Virgil's  well-known  gallantry  and 
partiality  for  the  gentler  sex.  His  repm- 
tation  in  this  respect  became  proverbial, 
and  resulted  in  increasing  the  receipts 
materially,  besides  surrounding  the  busi- 
ness with  attractions  not  contemplated  at 


<^ 


~j 


A  LEAF  OF  EXCESS  HISTORY, 


21 


the    outset.       It    became    the    custom    for 
gentlemen     in     Montreal     or     New    York, 
when    it    was    necessary    for    their    wives 
or   daughters   to   travel  without  their  pro- 
tection, to  give  them  over  to    Mr.  Virgil's 
charge,  who   made   it   his   business   to  see 
that   they   were    bountifully    provided    for 
at    the    hotels    and    made   as   comfortable 
as   possible   on    the   route,     and    promptly 
delivered    on   arrival   at   their   destination. 
An    illustration   of    his    gallantry   may   be 
learned    from   an  incident  that  took   place 
near     St.     Albans,     Vermont.        A     stage- 
sleigh   contained  three  persons  inside,  one 
occupying     each     seat     in     the     following 
order :    On   the  .rear   seat  a   lady ;   on    the 
centre   seat    Mr.    Virgil,  and   on    the   front 
seat   an   unknown   male.     The  latter   indi- 
vidual concluded    to   smoke,    and    drawing 
forth    an    aged    and    dark    complex!  jned 
clay   pipe,     filled    and   lit   it.      Some   con- 
versation   took    place    between    the    lady 
and    Mr.   Virgil,    the   result   of   which  was 
the   latter   requested  the  smoker   to  desist 


22  A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  I/I  STORY. 


ii.l 


as  the  fumes  were  not  agreeable  to  the 
lady.  The  only  response  was  a  persist- 
ent and  increased  puffing.  There  was 
a  quick  movement  and  the  smoker  felt 
himself  grasped  by  the  collar  of  his  coat 
and  the  rear  portion  of  his  unmention- 
ables, and  the  next  moment  all  that  could 
be  seen  of  him  was  his  feet,  which  pro- 
truded from  a  snow-bank  at  the  road- 
side. The  driver  was  urged  to  make  all 
possible  haste.  He  did  so,  and  no  more 
was   seen   of    the   smoker. 


1 


LUXURIES  FOR  THE  CANADIANS. 

The  first  shipment  of  live  lobsters  that 
ever  went  into  Montreal,  .was  taken  there 
by  Mr.  Virgil,  who,  after  boarding  the 
steamer  at  La  Prairie,  improvised  an 
entertainment  by  removing  the  cover  of 
the  box  and  dumping  them  on  the  deck. 
The  fifty  lobsters  thus  liberated  after  a  long 
journey  seemed  pleased  and  were  glad  of 
the  opportunity  of  taking  a  little  exercise. 
The     passengers    were    as    lively    as    the 


S 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HIS  TOR  Y. 


23 


1 


lobsters.  The  ladies  threw  themselves 
into  the  arms  of  their  male  protectors, 
and  those  unprovided  with  such  con- 
veniences mounted  the  chairs  and  tables; 
the  crew  became  demoralized  and  quiet 
was  not  restored  until  the  lobsters  were 
secured    and     returned    to   their    quarters. 

THE    SINEWS     OF     WAR. 

During  the  years  1844,  '45  and  '46,  the 
''sinews  of  war"  were  obtained  in  a  large 
degree  by  purchasing  Canadian  bank  bills 
in  New  York  city  at  a  discount  of  five  to 
fifteen  per  cent,  for  which  par  was  re- 
ceived at  Montreal,  also  by  the  purchase  in 
New  York  of  English  shillings  at  twenty 
cents  each,  four  of  which  in  Montreal 
brought  ninety-eight  and  one-quarter  cents 
in  Mexican  dollars  or  old  French  crowns, 
which  in  turn  were  worth  in  New  York 
from  two  to  three  per  cent  premium. 
With  the  profits  of  these  exchanges  reg- 
ular trips  were  made  and  in  this  way 
the   confidence  of   the   public   was   gained. 


I_ 


24  A  LEAF  OF  EXPIRE SS  HISTORY. 

So  implicit  was  this  confidence  that  often 
two  four-horse  teams  were  required  to 
transport  the  coin.  In  such  cases  Mr. 
Virgil  always  seated  himself  with  the 
driver  of  the  rear  team,  and  with  relays 
of  horses,  traversed  the  whole  distance 
between  Montreal  and  New  York. 

The  cause  of  the  accumulation  of  silver 
in  such  large  quantities  in  Canada,  was 
the  payment  of  it  to  the  troops  by  the 
British  government  which,  at  this  time, 
had   a   large   army  stationed   there. 

TRAVEL     IN     SUMMER. 

In  the  summer,  relays  of  fast  horses 
were  hired  for  the  trip  between  White- 
hall and  Troy,  thus  shortening  the  time 
usually  taken  between  those  points,  be- 
sides n  aking  close  connection  with  the 
boats  for  New  York,  and  invariably  arriv- 
ing there  24  hours  ahead  of  the  mails. 
The  present  cheap  rate  of  postage,  adopted 
by  Congress  in  1851,  is  in  a  measure  due 
to  the  enterprise  of  expressmen  who,  when 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTOR  Y, 


25 


f 


\ 


the  postage  was  10  cents,  carried  letters  to 
all  points  reached  by  them  tor  5  cents, 
thus  demonstrating  the  practicability  of 
lower  rates  being  remunerative,  besides 
giving  quicker  service. 

Some  further  interesting  accounts  of 
Mr.  Virgil's  early  adventures  will  perhaps 
have  an  added  interest  if  given  in  his 
own  language.  Being  possessed  of  a  re- 
markably good  memory,  he  relates  them 
as  readily  and  graphically  as  if  they  were 
occurrences  of  but  yesterday.  The  fol- 
lowing    verbatim    accounts    are    therefore 

given  : 

MR.  Virgil's   narrative. 

"We  often  met  with  great  difficulty  in 
getting  across  the  St.  Lawrence  river. 
The  usual  way  of  crossing  was  by  steam- 
boat from  La  Prairie,  nine  miles  above 
Montreal.  The  current  there  runs  about 
nine  miles  an  hour,  as  is  also  the  case  at 
St.  Lambert,  which  point  lies  directly 
opposite  Montreal,  and  was.  the  regular 
crossing   place   after   the   steamboats   were 


i 


26  J  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HIS  TOR  V. 

laid    up.      The    river    was   usually   full   of 
moving    ice   by   the   twentieth   of   Novem- 
ber,  and    the   steamboats    then   went   into 
winter    quarters.      The    swiftness    of     the 
current   prevents    the    river   from    freezing 
over     until     about    the    first    of     January. 
During     this     interval     the     crossing     was 
made     with     canoes,    and     was    extremely 
hazardous.      The    large    floes    that     came 
down   over   the  Lachine  rapids,  nine  miles 
above     St.     Lambert,     would      strike      the 
canoes  with  great  force.     Our  only   safety 
in     such    cases     was     to    jump     from     the 
canoes   to   the  floating  cakes  of  ice  ;   then, 
with   a   rope,  usually  about    100  feet   long, 
which    was    always    attached    to    the   bow 
of    the   canoe,   we    would    puil    it    on    the 
ice,  and   float   along  until   we  struck  open 
water,    then    resume   our    places    and    pad- 
dle  on.      It   sometimes    took    from    two    to 
four     hours     to     make     the     passage.       I 
crossed    in     this     way    regularly    for     five 
winters,  and  after  this  occasionally,  up   to 
i860.      The    mercury    usually    stood    from 


A  LEAF  OF  EXFJiESS  HISTORY. 


27 


twenty    to     thirty,    and     sometimes     forty 
degrees  below  zero.      The  first  ice  usually 
makes     about     Christmas    time,    at    Long 
Point,  four   miles   below   Montreal.     There 
the  river  widens  to  nearly  two  and  one-half 
miles.     The   current  is  very  slow,  running 
about   two    miles    an    hour.      This    causes 
the   formation   of    a   dam;    the   water   sets 
back   up    the    river,    and    if    the    mercury 
stays   as  low   as  twenty-five    to    thirty   de- 
grees   below    zero,    an    ice    bridge    forms 
between  Montreal  and  St.  Lambert,  which, 
when    the    water    finally    subsides,    leaves 
the    ice    in    all    sorts    of    shapes,    and    in 
every    conceivable    position.      A    roadway 
is    made   by   cutting    and    scaling   the   ice, 
and    indicated   by  spruce   limbs.     Then   all 
went    well    until     about     the    fifteenth    of 
April,  when  the  batteaux  and  canoes  were 
again   brought   into   requisition,   and    were 
the  only  means  of  crossing  until  the  river 
was   clear   of    ice. 


88  A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTOR  V. 


If 

I? 


MODERN    IMPROVEMENTS. 

"The  completion  of  Victoria  bridge, 
in  i860,  from  St.  Lambert  to  Montreal, 
has  done  away  with  all  this  trouble  in 
getting  across  the  St.  Lawrence.  The 
bridge  is  of  tubular  iron,  twenty-two  feet 
high  and  sixteen  feet  wide,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  wonders  of  the  world. 
It  is  9,194  feet  long,  and  rests  upon 
twenty-four  stone  abutments.  The  central 
tube  is  330  feet  in  length.  The  cost  was 
^6,300,000. 

"When  the  river  was  impassable  at  Long 
Point  and  St.  Lambert,  we  went  to  Caugh- 
nawaga,  an  Indian  village  nine  miles  west 
of  St.  Lambert,  and  directly  opposite 
Lachine,  the  latter  lying  at  the  head  of 
the  rapids  of  that  name  and  at  the  foot 
of  Lake  St.  Louis,  a  widening  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  river  about  twenty-five  miles 
in    length. 

A    HAIRBREADTH    ESCAPE. 

"After  the  ice  forms   in  Lake  St.  Louis 
it   comes    down    in    large    sheets    and    is 


I 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTOR  Y. 


29 


separated  by  the  swift  currents,  leaving 
open  places  between  Caughnawaga  and 
Lachine,  where  at  times  it  was  possible 
to  cross  with  canoes  when  all  other 
avenues  were  closed.  I  arrived  at  Caugh- 
nawaga one  evening  in  the  winter  of  1845, 
and  retired,  expecting  to  cross  to  Lachine 
in  the  morning.  Upon  rising  in  the 
morning  I  found  that  the  mercury  stood 
twenty  degrees  below  zero,  that  a  fog 
enveloped  all  objects,  and  nothing  could 
be  discerned  100  feet  distant.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  I  did  not  attempt  to 
cross  until  mid-day.  I  then  made  the 
attempt  and  succeeded,  not,  however, 
without  supreme  difficulties,  and  an 
escape,  the  memory  of  which  still  causes 
my  pulse  to  beat  reckessly.  I  secured 
the  services  of  two  Indians  and  seating 
myself  in  a  canoe  shoved  out  into  the 
river,  which  was  frozen  some  fifty  feet 
from  the  shore.  They  remained  on  the 
ice  and  retained  the  rope,  one  end  of 
which    was    fastened    to   the    bow    of    the 


30 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HIS  TOR  Y, 


I 
I 

I; 


1 1  ''i! 

r:ui 


canoe.  With  this  rope  they  towed  me  up 
the  river  about  half  a  mile  for  the  pur- 
pose of  avoiding  the  swift  currents  near 
the  rapids.  They  then  got  into  the  canoe 
and  we  started  with  the  bow  headed 
diagonally  up  stream.  The  fog  still 
shrouded  all  objects,  and  it  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  that,  with  our  ice  hooks, 
we  prevented  the  cakes  of  ice  from  strik- 
ing us  with  a  force  that  would  have  sent 
us  to  the  bottom.  We  finally  struck  a 
large  floe  and  were  obliged  to  alight 
upon  it.  We  then  made  for  'the  other 
side,  dragging  the  canoe  with  us,  which  we 
again  launched.  The  fog  occasionally  lifted 
and  enabled  uc  to  get  our  bearings,  which 
were  not  satisfactory  in  all  particulars, 
as  the  sounds  which  reached  our  ears 
warned  us  of  the  unpleasant  proximity 
of  the  rapids,  a  foe  into  whose  icy  em- 
brace we  were  swiftly  drifting.  We  had 
about  concluded  that  our  efforts  had  been 
in  vain,  and  that  in  a  few  moments  we 
would   be  dashed   to  pieces  on   the   rocks, 


r 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


31 


when  suddenly  the  fog  lifted  and  dis- 
closed a  small  bay  on  the  Lachine  side 
of  the  river  into  which  the  ice  had  drifted. 
We  paddled  for  this  point  with  an  'en- 
ergy born  of  desperation  '  and  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  outer  cakes,  when  one  of 
the  Indians,  with  the  end  of  the  rope 
in  one  hand,  and  an  ice  hook  in  the 
other,  leaped  to  one  of  the  blocks  of  ice 
and  succeeded  in  reaching  the  shore.  We 
landed  near  the  old  wind-mill,  about  loo 
feet  above  the  rapids. 

NEWSPAPER  ENTERPRISE  OF  YE  OLDEN  TYME. 

"Another  experience  of  crossing  the  St. 
Lawrence  river  under  adverse  circum- 
stances took  place  on  Christmas  eve,  in 
the  year  1842.  Perhaps  it  would  be  well 
to  give  the  reason  for  making  such  ex- 
traordinary efforts,  when  it  was  danger- 
ous to  do  so.  I  arrived  at  Burlington, 
Vermont,  at  8  p.  m.  on  the  23d  of  De- 
cember, 1842,  and  shortly  after  retiring, 
was    aroused    by    the    stage    agent,    who 


32  A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTOR  V. 

informed    me  that  a  package  addressed  to 
Mr.   Ramsey,   editor  of   the    Montreal    Ga- 
zette,  and   a   letter   addressed    to    me   had 
just    arrived    by    special    messenger    from 
Mr.  Lacy,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.     At   this  time 
the   Cunard  line  of   steamers   ran  between 
Liverpool     and      Boston,     and  '  the     last 
steamer   had   brought   news   of   the   treaty 
of  peace  between  Great  Britain  and  China, 
effected  September    nth,  1842.       Mr.  Lacy 
had    received    this    news    at    Albany   from 
Boston,   via    the    Boston   and   Albany   rail- 
road,  and   by   special   messenger,  with   re- 
lays   of    horses    furnished     by    the    stage 
companies,  had   overtaken   me  at   Burling- 
ton, Vermont.     His  letter  to  mc  contained 
instructions   to   reach  Montreal   under  any 
circumstances,   and   at   all    hazards,   aherd 
of   the   mails   and  passengers    from    Liver- 
pool  and    Boston,    traveling  m'a    the   regu 
lar    route    between    Boston   and    Montreal. 
This    route    was    by    rail   from   Boston   to 
Concord,    then    by    stage    to    Burlington, 
vta     Montpelier.        From      Burlington      to 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPHESS  HISTORY, 


33 


Montreal,  the  same  route  was  traveled 
by  both  Boston  and  New  York  passen- 
gets.  The  package  for  Mr.  Ramsey  con- 
tained the  news  referred  to,  and  as 
despatch  is  one  of  the  main  timbers  in 
the  construction  of  our  business,  I  determ- 
ined to  follow  Mr.  Lacy's  instructions 
to  the  letter.  The  passengers  from  Bos- 
ton arrived  at  Burlington  the  same  night. 
We  all  left  Burlington  together  the  next 
morning  at  4  a.  m.  Many  of  the  pas- 
sengers were  Montreal  merchants,  on  their 
return   from    Liverpool. 

"The  incidents  of  the  trip  from  Liver- 
pool, and  the  news  of  peace  furnished  a 
fund  of  highly  entertaining  conversation, 
rendering  the  stage  journey  between 
Burlington  and  St.  Johns  especially  en- 
joyable. We  arrived  at  St.  Johns  at  6.30 
p.  M.,  and  were  told  that  the  river  was 
impassable  at  all  points.  All  hope  of 
reaching  Montreal  that  night  was  there- 
fore abandoned  except  by  me.  My  in- 
tentions,    however,    were     not     expressed. 


m 


34  ^  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HIS  TOR  Y. 

After  supper  my  absence  was  noticed   and 
the    landlord    questioned,    but     as    I    had 
told    him    that   I    intended    spending    the 
evening    with    my    agent,    Mr.    Charles    S. 
Pierce,    no    clue    to    my    movements    was 
discovered.      My     experience     in     crossing 
the   river   had    been   such,   I   made   up  my 
mind    that  perhaps   it  was   possible  to  get 
across   at   Long    Point,    and    as   the    ther- 
mometer  stood   at    twenty    degrees    below 
zero,    I   did    not    doubt    but    that    a   dam 
had   formed   at    that    place.       Mr.    Pierce,  ^ 
of  course,  knew   that   I   intended   to   cross 
the  river  that   night;   he   therefore  secured 
a    horse    and    cutter    with    a    driver    that 
knew  the  way   to    Longueuil,  a   small   vil- 
lage  about   three  miles   from  Long   Point, 
and  at  8.30  p.  m.  we  started.     The  distance 
from    St.    Johns   to    Longueuil   is    twenty- 
six  miles.      The  country  is  perfectly  level, 
and  the  farmers  take  down   the  fences  in 
the    winter    to    prevent    the    snow    from 
^rifting   in   the  roads.      We   lost  our  way 
•and  got   a   long  distance   from    the   road, 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTOR  Y, 


35 


but   finally   regained    it  and    reached   Lon- 
gueuil    at   1.30    Christmas     morning.      My 
first    move    at    Longueuil    was    to    get    a 
pilot.        On     inquirng     of      the     landlord 
at   the    hotel,   he    informed     me    that    tha 
ice  had  just    *' taken"  that  afte.a.^on,  that 
a  man  who   was   attending  a  ball,  then  in 
progress  at  the  hotel,  had  come    from  the 
other  side,   arriving    "just   at   dusk,"   and 
that    he   was    the    only    person    who    had 
crossed   the   river   on    the    ice.      The   man 
was    summoned    and    at    first    refused    to 
pilot   me ;   he   said  that    it   was   unsafe    to 
cross   in   daylight   and   he  would   not   risk 
himself     at     night.        After     considerable 
urging,    supplemented    by   an   offer   of   ten 
Yankee  dollars,  he  yielded,  but  would  not 
accept   pay  in   advance.      He   said    that   if 
he   never   reached    Long    Point   he   would 
not  need   the  money,  and    if   he  did  reach 
there   he   was   satisfied    that   I    would   pay 
him  according  to  agreement.     We  started, 
first   going    down    the  river   two   miles   to 
a     point     directly     opposite     Long     Point 


36  A  LEAF  OF  FXPA'FSS  HISTOR  V. 

Church.       Christmas     festivities     were     in 
progress   at   the  church,  which  was   illum- 
inated for  the  occasion.     We  started  on  the 
ice  at  2.45  A,  M.,  each  provided  with  lanterns 
and  long  poles,  in  addition  to  which  I  car- 
ried  my  carpet-bag.     As  will  be  surmised, 
our  object    in   starting  at  a   point  directly 
opposite    the    church    was,    that    it    might 
serve   as   a   beacon.     The   ice   had   formed 
as    smooth  as  a  mirror,  but   was   liable  to 
break   up   at  any  moment.     The  incessant 
reverberations    filled    us    with    fear.       We 
were  constantly  falling,  an  experience  cal- 
culated to  increase  our  sense  of  insecurity. 
Perhaps    the   best  explanatioi  of   my  feel- 
ings on  this   occasion  would  be  similar  to 
that    of    the    old    soldier,    noted     for    his 
bravery    in    action,    who,    when    the    lines 
were   advancing  to   meet    the   enemy,  per- 
ceiving a  rabbit   spring   from    a  bush   and 
make  for  the  rear,  said:    "Run  while  you 
have  a  chance.     If  I  had  no  greater  repu- 
tation at  stake  than  you,  I  would  be  with 
you."      After  two   and   one-half    hours   of 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


37 


peril,  v/e  reached  the  shore,  where  the 
pilot's  first  move  was  to  fall  on  his 
knees  and  thank  the  Virgin  Mary  for 
bringing  him  safely  over ;  the  next,  to 
place  one-half  of  what  I  paid  him  in  the 
poor-box  of   the  church. 

*'At  fifteen  minutes  before  six  I  awoke 
Mr.  Ramsey,  at  his  residence,  in  Montreal. 
His  first  salutation  was,  "  Hallo  !  Virgil  ! 
Is  this  you,  or  your  ghost?"  I  was  liber- 
ally remunerated  for  the  delivery  of  the 
package,  and  at  9  a.  m.  Montreal  was 
flooded  with  extras  containing  the  news 
of  peace.  Some  time  subsequently  the 
hotel-keeper  at  St.  Johns  informed  me 
that  in  the  morning  inquiries  were  made 
by  the  passengers,  and  that  when  he  told 
them  that  he  had  not  seen  me  since  the 
night  previous,  they  all  declared  that  I 
had  served  them  a  regular  Yankee  trick  ; 
that  I  knew  all  the  time  of  some  point 
where  it  was  possible  to  get  across  the 
river.  They  arrived  at  Montreal  at  5.30 
p.    M.    Christmas   day." 


38 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


I 


THE    RESULT    OF    A    LIFE    WORK. 

This,     in    brief,    is     the    history    of    the 
National    Express  Company,    a  few  of   the 
difficulties   experienced    in    establishing    it 
upon  a  paying  basis,  and  the  important  part 
taken  in  it  by  the  originator.      Its  growth 
has  been  steady,  and  the  volume  of  busi- 
ness transacted  by  it  to-day  is  very  large. 
It  has  proved  a  public  benefactor  in  many 
ways,   and    is    not    by    vu,.    ..leans    among 
the  least  of  the  great  conveniences  of  this 
modern  age  of  improvements.      From  one 
office   at   each    end   of   the   line,  and   trips 
made   semi-monthly   under   the    difficulties 
narrated,  and   many   others,   it   has  grown 
in   38    years   to    require,   for   the    transac- 
tion   of    its    local    and    general     business, 
about    500    men,   who    run    as    ;,*•■- rangers 
on    boats    and    trains,   act    as    agt  .f     and 
clerks    in    the    250    offices,    drive    the    200 
horses  which  draw  the  delivery  wagons  in 
cities  and  villages  ;   and   daily  and   hourly 
trips  are  made   between   important   points 


A  LEAF  OF  EXPRESS  HISTORY. 


39 


delivering  consignments  representing  vast 
wealth,  and  taking  especial  care  of  all 
kinds  of  merchandise  and  valuables.  It 
stands  pre-eminent  as  one  of  the  greatest 
monuments  a  man  can  rear  to  himself  to 
perpetuate  the  results  of  indomitable  cour- 
age and  perseverance  and  business  ability. 
Such  a  business  monument  to  such  a  man 
is  the  National  Express  Company  to  Mr. 
E.  H.  Virgil ;  and  to  him  and  Mr.  Jacobs 
belongs  the  credit  of  being  the  first  to 
enter  Canada  in  express  interests,  and 
especially  to  the  former,  who  enlisted 
himself  heartily  into  the  work,  and,  in 
'  spite  of  obstacles  which  to  other  men 
would  have  seemed  insurmountable,  he 
succeeded  ;  and  the  magnitude  of  his 
success  needs  no  words  of  praise,  and 
no  greater  compliment  than  is  shown  in 
the  existence  of  the  National  Express 
Company. 


